CHICOPEE — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll emphasized that increasing housing and making it more affordable is a major goal of the Healey/Driscoll administration.

“The entire Elms College community and I are excited to welcome Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll to Elms and hear her remarks on how the new administration can help the western Massachusetts economy move forward,” said Dr. Harry E. Dumay, president of Elms College in a written statement.

She told elected leaders and business people at the sixth annual Elms College Executive Leadership Breakfast the commonwealth is 200,000 units short of what it needs for housing.

She said that everywhere she and Gov. Maura Healey go they hear about the high cost of housing and the lack of availability of housing. With the advances in working from home, she said that people working for Massachusetts-based companies can “live anywhere,” including states with a greater and less expensive housing stock.

Driscoll said that half of the commonwealth’s residents are renters and the rents can take up to 30% of their income. This puts Massachusetts at a “severe competitive disadvantage” at retaining young people
She acknowledged that one factor that prevents the construction of more affordable housing is the varying zoning laws of the 351 cities and towns in the commonwealth, many of which are written to discourage affordable housing.

She also noted that aging baby Boomers, who are living longer, require different housing options.
She said the commonwealth needs “a pro-housing agenda.”

Driscoll outlined several broad issues the administration is addressing. She said having a well-trained workforce is a “bread and butter” issue. “How do we firm up that pipeline [between training and jobs]?” she asked. She noted the Healey/Driscoll administration has proposed a $700,000 allocation that is an investment for building a trained workforce by allowing people over the age of 25 without training to go to community college at no cost.

Rethinking what high school is and does for students is another way to build a connection between training and the job market, she added.

She also acknowledged the state’s high taxes and how it affects both businesses and residents.
Establishing the “clean tech” industry in Massachusetts is another goal. Driscoll explained confronting climate change is a “new economy tied to clean climate can be led by Massachusetts.”

Understanding the importance of tourism to the commonwealth, Driscoll noted that Salem where she was mayor ranks third in the commonwealth for visits. “We found a way to have Halloween last 31 days in Salem,” she joked.

The advance in tourism in Salem took investment, she explained and that is what the Healey/Driscoll Administration wants to do with the tourism industry Western Massachusetts. Driscoll noted a new director who coordinate the state’s tourism efforts has been appointed.

Tourism, she noted, is “just an opportunity for putting food on the table.”

The Healey/Driscoll administration is also acknowledging the issues faced by rural communities with the appointment former state Sen. Anne Gobi as the first rural affairs director, she said. Driscoll said rural communities have the same concerns as those living in cities except there are “less people and more land.”

About 150 people attended the event, including Chicopee Mayor John Vieau, Agawam Mayor William Sapelli, Easthampton Mayor Nicolle LaChapelle, state reps Michael Finn, Aaron Saunders and Shirley Arriaga, state Sen. Jake Oliveira, American International College President Dr. Hubert Benitez, Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson, Springfield Technical Community College President Dr. John Cooke, Eastern States Exposition President Eugene Cassidy and Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt.